I write this to remind you of upcoming competitions, some of which have been previously described and one which has been mooted but not described in detail as yet.

Firstly, Canterbury Faire will be upon us in a couple of months, which will include the competition of “Mead plus One.” The conditions of this competition can be found elsewhere, but in brief all entries are to comprise honey, yeast, one other ingredient attested to in a period source for use in mead and yeast nutrient if deemed necessary. Entrants from outside of the Crescent Isles are reminded of import restrictions due to biocontamination and quarantine regulations, and to ensure that they have a written testament to the boiling regimen that their entry has undergone. This competition will count towards guild rankings, and is being organised by Rohesia, Journeywoman of the Guild.

Secondly, there will be held at Rowany Festival a competition in a similar vein as to that run at Canterbury Faire, but with a different source of sugar. This competition will be on “Cider plus One,” with the conditions being that the brew contain apple juice (pressed yourself, storebought or otherwise is fine), yeast, one other ingredient attested to in a period source for use in cider and yeast nutrient if deemed necessary. This competition will count towards guild rankings, and will be run myself at Rowany Festival, with further details on the time and place of the judging to come closer to the event.

Thirdly, at May Crown next in Aneala, there will be a competition on Meads and Fruit Wines. I would encourage all who are able to craft a beverage that will comply with local quarantine restrictions to submit one to Wolfgang, Apprentice of the Guild, who will have more to say as to the mechanics of the competition closer to the event. This being an official guild competition, it will also count towards guild rankings.

Finally, I would like to wish all entrants in these competitions the best of luck, and to remind folk that we are heading towards stone-fruit season; I look forward to drinking some interesting things done with the produce of the coming months.

If you have questions, feel free to contact me, and know that in the meantime I remain

Padraig, Clerk of the Guild
At Rowany, on the Feast of St Gregory Palamas

Not everyone was present for the full tasting hence the total votes changed from time to time. There was no official business so we got straight into the tasting.

18 brews were entered over 5 categories. There was a tie between Rohesia with the Metheglen and the Red Zoned Avoncider, and Timothy with the Sweet Mead and Dark Rum. The tie was decided by the on site brew off, using our own home made malts. A public tasting ended with votes 28 to 13 in favour of Rohesia’s Gruit Ale, over Timothy’s Barley Malt Ale, giving Roheisa the Canterbury Faire Tasting prize for 2015.

FERMENTED SOFT DRINKS

Rohesia’s Elderflower Champagne <2%
As per last year, Lemoney with a good elderflower nose. Well liked by the Guild and the populous.
Category WINNER by default.

ALES AND BEERS

Timothy Haast’s Pale Ale
A very “happy” beer, using English yeast and NZ hops. Presented on a hand pull. A good English pub ale.
Votes 9 positive, 10 neutral, 3 negative.

James’ Meant to be a Bitter
Added too many hops. Primed and conditioned in the bottle, would have been better cold.
Votes 3 positive, 7 neutral, 12 negative.

Rohesia’s Redzoned Avoncider
A mix of backyard apples scrumped for the earthquake damaged suburb of Avonside, fermented on the fruits own yeast. Back sweetened with Quince syrup. Votes 22 positive, no neutral, 3 negative.
Category WINNER. Also won the Brewers guild Cider competition held during the A&S display.

Rohesia’s Redzoned Crabapple Cider
A mix of crabapples and Red delicious with some Japanese Quince, fermented on the fruits own yeast.
Votes 6 positive, 8 neutral, 5 negative.

Rohesia’s Gruit Ale
Using our home made pale malt, Heather (from Timothy’s garden), Sweet woodruff (from Rohesia’s garden) and Yarrow picked on site. Sweetened with honey and using a Belgian Saison yeast. Yeast was pitched on the Tuesday evening of Faire and the ale drunk on the following Saturday afternoon.

28 votes from the populous.

Timothy’s Barley Ale
Using our home made malt, some of which was toasted on site on the Sunday of Faire and using a Belgian Saison yeast. Yeast was pitched on the Tuesday evening of Faire and the ale drunk on the following Saturday afternoon.

The Lochac Brewer’s Guild competition for 2015 was Cider. There were 5 entries, 3 from Roheisa Le Sarjent(Belle Sibly) one from , Dauid de Cochran (Dauid Marsden) and one from Padraig Lowther (Paddy Neumann). Entries were judged by a panel of 3 expert judges, Mistress Miriam Galbraith, Master Brian di Caffa and Rossell Fitz-Richard (aka Redbeard, judge of the annual NAAMA brew comp), and scored on documentation, workmanship, authenticity and overall impression. With only 5 entries the planned 3 categories were combined into one.
1st place Rohesia’s Avoncider with a score 95
2nd place Rohesia’s Crabapple Cider with a score of 91
3rd Paddy’s spiced Cyzer with a score of 89
4th Rohesia’s Serpent’s Kiss Cider with a score of 79
5th Dauid’s Pear Scrumpy with a score of 62